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Stanford Secures Trip to NCAA Championships

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's golf team shot a final round team score of 284 (+10) to finish sixth at the NCAA West Regional at Stanford Golf Course, securing a trip to the NCAA Championships in Wilmington, NC.

Stanford's final 54-hole score of 895 (+43) left the Cardinal 19 shots behind first place Arizona, which won the event with a score of 876 (+24). UCLA finished second at 885 (+33) while Texas and Alabama tied for third at 890 (+38).

Also qualifying from the West Region were Virginia (894; +42), San Jose State (900; +48) and Texas A&M (903; +51).

San Jose State's Madeleine Ziegert and Virginia's Calle Nielson both finished at 214 (+1) to share medalist honors. Ziegert, who shot a four-under 67 in Thursday's first round, carded a two-over 73 today while Nielson finished with an even par 71 to earn a share of the individual title.

Nikki Koller of Arizona and Haley Stephens of Texas, who shot a final round 68, finished one stroke back at 215.

Stanford made seven birdies as a team over the final seven holes to earn its first trip to the NCAA Championships since 2007.

'I am so proud of this team and the way we played over the last seven holes,' said head coach Caroline O'Connor. 'The putts started to drop on the back nine and our players began feeding off each other. It was like a light switch was turned on.

'We've believed in ourselves all season long and now we are seeing the results.'

Watson, who finished 12th at 219 (+6), was solid from tee to green all three days. She was one-over through 12 holes before collecting her first birdie of the day on the par-4 13th hole. Watson bogied holes No. 15 and 18 to close with a two-over 73.

Durham, who made back-to-back birdies on holes No. 13 and 14, tied for 19th at 223 (+10).

After making the turn at four over, King energized the team with consecutive birdies on the par five 12th and par four 12th holes to finish with a 73. She tied for 31st at 225 (+12).

Freshman Kristina Wong birdied the par five 16th hole en route to a final round 75 and tied for 44th at 228 (+15).

Sophomore Sydney Burlison shot a five-over 76 to finish tied for 76th at 234 (+21). Her back nine was highlighted by a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 14th hole.

Qualifying for the NCAA Championships from the Central Regional were USC, Arizona State, Purdue, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Florida State, Oregon and Kent State. Advancing from the East Regional were South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Duke, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Pepperdine and TCU.

'I think we are going into the NCAA's with a lot of momentum,' said O'Connor. 'We will be a bit under the radar screen but we're going back there to win.'

The NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships will be held at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, NC from May 18-21. Stanford will be making its 19th trip to the NCAA's, where it finished as high as second in 2000.